Safeguard Scientifics Announces Second Quarter 2014 Financial Results

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Conference call and webcast today at 9:00 a.m. EDT

Through strategic focus & disciplined execution, Safeguard remains on target to add a total of five to six new partner companies in 2014.

Wayne, PA (PRWEB)July 24, 2014

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE:SFE) today announced second quarter 2014 financial results. For the three months ended June 30, 2014, Safeguard’s net loss was $7.3 million, or $0.35 per share, compared to a net loss of $28.1 million, or $1.33 per share for the same period in 2013. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, Safeguard’s net income was $24.0 million, or $1.13 per share, compared to a net loss of $40.1 million, or $1.90 per share, for the same period of 2013.

“We are encouraged by the solid performance and continued growth of Safeguard’s partner companies,” said Stephen T. Zarrilli, President and CEO at Safeguard. “Year-to-date, we’ve realized $81.3 million in cash proceeds from our interests in former partner companies Alverix, Crescendo Bioscience, NuPathe, and Sotera Wireless; and deployed $34.1 million of capital in three new partner companies—InfoBionic, Syapse, and subsequent to the quarter, Trice Medical—and nine current partner companies. Through strategic focus and disciplined execution, Safeguard remains on target to add a total of five to six new partner companies in 2014. Our momentum remains strong and opportunities abound for additional M&A activity and value creation for our shareholders.”

“As of June 30, 2014, Safeguard had deployed $201.1 million of capital into its 20 partner companies,” said Jeffrey B. McGroarty, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Safeguard. “Our net cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $148.4 million, after subtracting the total carrying value of debt outstanding of $50.0 million. As a result of net proceeds from recent exit transactions, Safeguard continues to have exceptional financial strength, flexibility and liquidity.”

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
During the second quarter of 2014, Safeguard completed its previously announced share repurchase program. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, Safeguard repurchased 1,194,313 shares of the Company’s common stock in open market transactions at prices ranging from $19.54 to $22.18 per share for an aggregate cost of $25.0 million. The Company will continue to assess its cash position and consider opportunities to repurchase shares, or debt, when excess cash is available based upon previously established parameters.

PARTNER COMPANY AGGREGATE REVENUE GUIDANCE
Safeguard Scientifics reiterates that partner company aggregate revenue in 2014 is projected to be between $345 million and $365 million. Aggregate revenue guidance for the same partner companies in 2013 and 2012 was $284 million and $201 million, respectively. Aggregate revenue guidance for 2014 and prior years reflects revenue on a net basis. Revenue figures utilized for certain partner companies pertain to periods prior to Safeguard’s involvement with those companies and is based solely on information provided to Safeguard by such companies. Safeguard reports the revenue of its equity and cost method partner companies on a one-quarter lag basis.

Format:
Discussion of second quarter 2014 financial results followed by Q&A.

Replay will be available through August 24, 2014 at 11:59pm EDT. For more information please contact IR(at)safeguard.com.

About Safeguard Scientifics
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE:SFE) has a distinguished track record of fostering innovation and building market leaders. For six decades, Safeguard has been providing growth capital and operational support to entrepreneurs across an evolving spectrum of industries. Today, Safeguard is focused specifically on two sectors—healthcare and technology. Recent successful exits include Alverix (acquired by Becton, Dickinson for $40 million); Crescendo Bioscience (acquired by Myriad Genetics for $270 million); NuPathe (acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries for $144 million); and ThingWorx (acquired by PTC for initial proceeds of $112 million). For more information, please visit http://www.safeguard.com or Follow Us on Twitter @safeguard.

Forward-looking Statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, our ability to make good decisions about the deployment of capital, the fact that our partner companies may vary from period to period, our substantial capital requirements and absence of liquidity from our partner company holdings, fluctuations in the market prices of our publicly traded partner company holdings, competition, our inability to obtain maximum value for our partner company holdings, our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, market valuations in sectors in which our partner companies operate, our inability to control our partner companies, our need to manage our assets to avoid registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and risks associated with our partner companies, including the fact that most of our partner companies have a limited history and a history of operating losses, face intense competition and may never be profitable, the effect of economic conditions in the business sectors in which Safeguard’s partner companies operate, and other uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control. As a result of these and other factors, the Company’s past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or other information contained in this press release.